The Corran, currently a luxury resort of 21 suites, and a further 29 being developed, submitted plans to build 200 turfed-roof lodges on 130 acres of marshland outside Laugharne.

Managing director Peter Burnett who lodged the application said the plans had ‘potential to pump millions of pounds into the local economy each year’ as well as creating around more than 200 full-time jobs.

But members of the planning committee, voted against the project by 12 votes to two.

An example of the turf-roofed lodges planned for the Corran Resort and Spa

Flooding and ecology

The plans had been recommended for refusal by officers on a number of grounds, including flooding issues, ecology, and that the development site is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

A report to the committee said: “The proposed development does not enhance or protect the County’s natural environment in relation to statutory designated sites, protected species and their habitats, regional and locally important sites and natural assets. Insufficient information has been provided to ascertain whether the proposal is likely to have any adverse effect on any designated site.”

But Mr Burnett, who said the development would tap into a vital international market, trading on West Wales’ vast array of attractions, including the major tourist draw created by poet Dylan Thomas, said Carmarthenshire Council had previously encouraged the application.

“Carmarthenshire County Council’s previous encouragement of our plans was totally abandoned today when members of the Planning Committee, by 12 votes to 2, decided to reject our proposals,” he said.

'Questionable decision'

“The Corran was proposing a £100m private investment creating 200 new jobs paid at living wage with minimisation of zero hours contracts – a once in a generation opportunity for West Carmarthenshire. We estimate that the development would have led to between £12m and £15m in the local economy per year.

“To turn down an investment of this size and quality without even a site visit makes questionable the whole basis of planning decisions in Carmarthenshire.

“The officers presenting the case constructed it in such a way as to be actively misleading in part. For example, they gave no detail of the significant flood mitigation measures proposed by the Corran and telling councillors that 'some chalets would be on stilts' when actually all of the proposed eco-lodges would be.

"They also produced new evidence which both we and the councillors had not previously seen. If the Corran were ever to flood, major towns like Llanelli, Cardiff and Swansea would also have flooded.

“The Corran is now considering whether or not to appeal the decision or get it reassessed. If we do seek to reverse this decision then we are hopeful of a fairer and more informed hearing from Welsh Government for a proposal of such national importance.”

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